Folding corkscrew, screw-driver, &amp; c.



No. 636,53l. Patented Nov. 7, I899.

. G. W. JOPSON- FOLDING CORKSCREW, SCREW DRIVER, 81.6.

(Applicution filed Oct. 2, 1899.) (N o M o d e l 1 UNIT D" STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. JOPSON, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

. FOLDING CORKSCREW, SCREW-DRIVER, 80c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,531, dated November 7, 1899.

Application filed October 2, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. J oPsoN, of Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Folding Corkscrews, Screw- Drivers, 850.; andI do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-= Figure 1, a side view of a folding corkscrew constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the screw in the closed position; Fig. 2, an edge view of the same; Fig. 3, a side view with the screw in the open position; Fig. 4, a sectional view of the locking-sleeve detached; Fig. 5, a modification in the formation of the handle.

This invention relates to an improvement in folding corkscrews, screw-drivers, and simitool is adapted to be turned. In the usual construction of this class of tools difflculty is experienced in holding the tool in the open position and so that when using the device the tool will double up.

Theobject of this invention is to provide a lock for instruments of this character, whereby the tool when open will be held rigidly in the handle; and it consists in the construction as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

The handle A is preferably formed from a single strip of metal bent to formaloop handle, the ends a b of which extend outward from the loop and between which the shank of the tool B is pivoted. The closed end of the loop is contracted corresponding to the tool employedand so that the tool will be fric'tionally held between the contracted sides when in the closed position. As herein shown, the tool is a corkscrew; but it is evident that it may be a gimlet, screw-driver, button-hook, or any other implement. The ends a b of the loop extend beyond the pivot 0, upon which the implement 'turns, and the exterior of the ends are rounded. Around the shank B of the tool is placed a collar D, which is free to hold the sleeve in position. friction is also increased by the fact that the sides of the handle naturally spring outward,

slide on the shank and formed with a cham- Serial No. 732,275. (No model.)

ber E, corresponding to the exterior of the ends of the handle. When folded, this sleeve remains on the shank within the loop; but when the implement is turned outward, as shown in Fig. 3, the sleeve may be forced upward onto the ends of the handle, and thereby firmly interlock the implement with the handle. By tapering the ends of the handle and the inner walls of the chamber in the sleeve sufficient friction may be obtained to The amount of and a slight play may be allowed at the pivot to permit such movement. It is also apparent that the ends of the handle might be externally threaded, so that the sleeve might be screwed upon the ends of the handle; but ordinarily friction will hold the sleeve in position with sufficient security for all practical purposes.

Instead of forming the handle from a single piece of metal it may be made in two pieces riveted or otherwise secured together, as shown in Fig. 5, and, if desired, a cutting or other tool F may be secured between the joined ends of the handle.

As the loop or handle is formed from a strip or strips of flat metal, space is provided around the loop or handle for stamping or otherwise applying advertising matter.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a loop-shaped handle, of an implement pivoted between the outer ends thereof, a sleeve surrounding the shank of the implement, and adapted to be passed over the outer ends of the loop or handle, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a loop-shaped handle, of an implement pivoted between the outer ends thereof which project beyond the pivot, said projecting ends rounded, and a sleeve surrounding said shank and free to slide thereon, and adapted to be forced onto the outer ends of the handle, substantially as the outer ends of the loop or handle, substan- 1o described. tially as described.

3. Thecombination withaloop-shapedhan- In testimony whereof I have signed this dle, contracted at its inner end, of an implespecification in the presence of two subscrib- 5 ment pivoted between the outer ends of the ing witnesses.

handle and adapted to closely fit between the GEO. W. JOPSON. contracted sides at the inner end of the han- Witnesses: dle, and a sleeve surrounding the shank of EVAN OWEN,

the implement, and adapted to be passed over E. O. BIRDSEY. 

